THE NORTH WEST DERBY AND FERGIE

Big day today!! and its only May, but this afternoon is the "North West" Derby between Manchester United and Liverpool...a day that Sir Alec Ferguson is taken to hospital with an " falling unwell issue"...not an emergency but at 84 years old there is care being taken. We wish him well. 

The first coming together between the two North-west clubs, was in 1894, on April 28th, with Liverpool beating Newton Heath 2-0 at Ewood Park (know where that is?), in what was known as a "Test Match", so not a League match. Patrick Gordon (after 15 mins) and Harry Bradshaw (after 30 mins) scored. Ten of the Liverpool team were Scottish and one, Harry Bradshaw, English! One United player, Fred Erentz, was a Scot...beautiful Scottish name!! 

That's when the Manchester Ship Canal was built by Manchester merchants. They were infuriated at the high import charges levied by the Port of Liverpool. The building of the canal led to many dockers and labour workers from Liverpool losing their jobs. Liverpool was a major seaport which was often used as a halt area, but they ended up suffering when ships could bypass their city to go directly to Manchester.

This allowed Manchester to overtake Liverpool economically and, of course, there was a lot of anger in Liverpool due to this. As a result, the Merseysiders entered the first division while the Mancunians replaced the Reds in the second tier. Can you imagine, how angry the Manchester side must have been? And they are still bitter.

The two cities hated each other and when they clashed on the pitch for the first time, the rivalry only escalated. In 1893/94, club Newton Heath, which will later become Manchester United, finished bottom of the English first division.

Liverpool, meanwhile, finished top of the Second Division after being undefeated in the competition all season long. The rules of the game at that time implied that the bottom-last of the top-flight would face the winners of the second division.

Liverpool came out winners beating Newton Heath 2-0. As a result, the Merseysiders entered the first division while the Mancunians replaced the Reds in the second tier. Can you imagine, how angry the Manchester side must have been? And they are still bitter.

On October 12th 1895, Liverpool hosted Newton Heath beating them 7-1 in a Division Two League match. On November 2nd 1895, in a "proper" Division 2 League game, Newton Heath won 5-2. Plenty of goals then!

The next coming together was on February 12th, 1898 when Newton Heath hosted Liverpool in an FA Cup 2nd Round tie, drawing 0-0 with Liverpool and winning the replay on the 16th, 2-0 in front of 6,000. Anfield crowd. 

First results were:

28 Apr 1894	Liverpool v Newton Heath	L	2-0	Test Match-BIT OF A FRIENDLY
12 Oct 1895	Liverpool v Newton Heath	L	7-1	League Division Two
02 Nov 1895	Newton Heath v Liverpool	W	5-2	League Division Two
12 Feb 1898	Newton Heath v Liverpool	D	0-0	FA Cup
16 Feb 1898	Liverpool v Newton Heath	L	2-1	FA Cup
07 Feb 1903	Manchester United v Liverpool	W	2-1	FA Cup

THEN.......

24 Dec 1904

Manchester United v Liverpool

W

3-1

League Division Two

Games won: 93
Games drawn: 71
Games lost: 82 not including today!!

OWN GOALS

In a bit of a rush this weekend.....If I dont get off the computer, I may have scored an own goal myself!! Have a look at this....hopefullyit works for you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v9tF6Mbo5I

THE POSH AND THE POOL!

Peterborough United Football Club is a professional Football Association club based in the town in Cambridgeshire, England. The club has spent its entire history at London Road and is nicknamed "The Posh". The team now competes in League One, the third level of the EFL. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and joined the Midland League. Having won the Midland League title for five seasons in a row from 1955 to 1959, they were elected into the Football League in 1960. Peterborough immediately won the Fourth Division title in 1960–61, scoring a Football League Record, 134 goals.

On 29th April 1961 A 15,318 London Road crowd saw Peterborough United beat Barrow 6-2 in their final Division Four match of the season. Not only did Posh top the division in their first Football League season but those six goals saw the club complete the season with a record 134 League goals. Terry Bly scored a hat-trick against Barrow to finish the season with 52 League goals, a post-war League best. Terry scored a record number of goals during the 1960–61 season but went on to score 87 goals in 101 appearances for the Club. See photo below.

Founded in 1892, Liverpool joined the Football League the following year and has played its home games at Anfield since its formation. Liverpool is one of the most valuable and widely supported clubs in the world. 

Domestically, the club has won a joint-record twenty League titles, eight FA Cups, a record ten League Cups and sixteen FA Community Shields. In international competitions, the club has won six European Cups, three UEFA Cups, four UEFA Super Cups—all English records—and one FIFA Club World Cup.

On this same day, 125 years ago (1900-01), Liverpool beat hosts West Bromwich Albion 0-1 to secure their first Football League title, under the guidance of Captain, Tom Watson.. It was a remarkable achievement for the club, who had been sitting in eighth place in the middle of February, seemingly out of the title race.

Five years earlier, in 1896, after Liverpool had been promoted to the First Division, guided by manager Tom Watson, who led Liverpool to its first League Title in 1901 and won the League again in 1906.

The club has played its home games at Anfield since its formation. Liverpool is one of the most valuable and widely supported clubs in the world. Domestically, Liverpool a joint joint record of twenty league titles, eight FA Cups, a record ten League Cups and sixteen FA Community Shields. In international competitions, the club has won six European Cups, three UEFA Cups, four UEFA Super Cups—(all English records)—and one FIFA Club World Cup!!

CHARLTON BROTHERS ANNIVERSARY AND ANNIVERSARY 1923 FA CUP FINAL

Bobby Charlton and brother Jackie both had landmarks on April 28th, when Bobby played his last game (606th) for Manchester United (he did go on to Preston NE briefly), losing to Chelsea 0-1 at Stamford Bridge. United were left just above the relegation zone.

Today it is worth mentioning the Anniversary of the Charlton Brothers too! Bobby and Jack Charlton: Two special brothers

JONATHAN Wilson’s latest book is another compelling read, underlining his place among the best historians of the game. Two Brothers is the bio of Bobby and Jack Charlton, both members of England’s triumphant 1966 World Cup team. It’s a story that has been told before, but never as comprehensively.

Jack is no longer with us and Bobby has dementia, a cruel condition that has hit so many of the Charlton brothers’ contemporaries. Wilson provides a well-rounded picture of their lives, but he also narrates the story with greater objectivity than most previous writers. Bobby, for example, comes across as a somewhat awkward character, a worrier and a pillar of the establishment. This persona doesn’t make him especially popular with some people, although nobody would ever deny that he is one of the greatest players ever produced by England.

Of course, Bobby’s life was not without its tragedy and Munich 1958 would have shaped his personality from a young age. Bobby was/is a Manchester United man through and through, a human being with values, morals and standards. Little wonder that he didn’t get on too well with George Best and even Denis Law. Bobby straddled post-war austerity Britain and the swinging sixties, but he looked very out of place in the latter. Best was the epitome of the 60s playboy, but Wilson presents an honest assessment of the Northern Ireland international, reflecting on the player’s self-pitying and lack of loyalty as well as his part in United’s early 1970s decline.

Bobby’s football career ended in 1973, although he had a brief flirtation with management. Jack, by contrast, was more suited to running a team. His career with Leeds United was every bit as interesting as Bobby’s at Old Trafford. Jack initially clashed with Don Revie, but was shaped into a formidable centre half. While Jack was all about function, Bobby “our kid”, was about form. Jack may have won a third of Bobby’s 106 England caps, but he played in a Leeds team that was every bit as good as Matt Busby’s third great United side of the mid-1960s. The Charltons’ England careers ended in the heat of Mexico in 1970.

They both retired in 1973, but few worried what would come next for Jack. Indeed, his managerial career ebbed and flowed according to his own designs, and he would later win the hearts of the Irish people in taking the Republic to the World Cup in 1990 and 1994.

Bobby, meanwhile, took a more ambassadorial role when it came to football, but his elder brother could never be as tactful or careful. Although Bobby was always respected for his football and place in the game, Jack was liked because he was straight forward, painfully honest, gregarious and amusing. A decent book had to be written about Bobby and Jack Charlton and the only regret is that neither could add their own contribution to the story. Those that had the good fortune to see them play in their pomp will delight in recalling their colourful careers. Once again, Jonathan Wilson’s ability to illuminate is there for all to see, even if we are only too aware that Bobby and Jack have been household names for over half a century. April 28th

Jackie retired from professional football outright, having spent all his time at Leeds Utd. His last game was played at the Dell v Southampton.

28th April 1923 was the first Wembley FA Cup Final which became known as the "White Horse Final". The new national stadium at Wembley had been long waited for and an official crowd of 126,047 was recorded and since it was not "all ticket", estimates suggested that more than 200,000 crammed into the stadium. Clearly there was a danger so the police got to work clearing the pitch and the famous police horse had to be employed to push the crowd back behind the touch lines. The match started 45 minutes late and Bolton Wanderers won 2-0.

On their way to final, in Round 1 Wanderers beat Norwich away 0-2, Leeds 3-1 at home, then met holders Huddersfield Town whom they eventually defeated 1-0 after a 1-1 draw in Huddersfield. The Trotters then dispatched Charlton away 0-1 and in the semi-final Sheffield United 1-0 at Old Trafford.

West Ham United beat Hull away 2-3 in Rd 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 at home in Rd 2 after a 1-1 draw away, Plymouth 2-0 at home in Rd 3, Southampton away 1-0 at the neutral Villa Park after two 1-1 draws in Rd 4 and a resounding 5-2 defeat of Derby at Stamford Bridge in the semi-final.

South Shields made great progress in the Cup beating Halifax Town 3-1 in Rd 1, Blackburn Rovers 0-1 away after a 0-0 home draw in Rd 2 and finally giving in to QPR 3-0 in Rd 3. QPR then lost to Sheffield United.

CARDIFF, A CAT AND A CUP!

 

Cardiff City apparently had little chance of winning the FA Cup Final on this day in 1927. The Welsh cliub had spent much of the se\ason fighting relegation and were expected to meet their match against Herbert Chapman's star studded Arsenal. If you don't know much about the above sentence then have a Google!! 

The Welsh club took a relaxed approach to the Cup Final and trained on a local golf course (with clubs of course) called Royal Birkdale! As the round progressed the lads realised they were being followed, hole to hole, by a friendly Black Cat! Unable to shake it off, the lads reckoned this was an OMEN and that it would bring them luck. Cardiff's team captain, Hughie Ferguson, persuaded the owner to let him take care of it, in exchange for e Cup Final ticket!!

The cat, given the name "Trixie" accomoanied the team to Wembley and was present at the Cup Final, which was a dull affair apparently, until the 74th minute when Ferguson shot at the Arsenal goal, bottom right corner! Arsenal's Welsh goalkeeper, Dan Lewis, dived and appeared to collect the shot, but it squirmed out of his newly worn Cup Final jersey and he knocked the ball into his goal with his elbow. (see his data below)

It was the only goal of the match, ironically on St George's Day, April 23rd! This proved to be the only time the FA Cup had "left" England, being won by a non-English Club. 

Of course, the Cardiff club, put the victory down to the lucky charm, Trixie the cat, while the Gunners developed a "superstition of their own and Lewis blamed his especially bought new keeper's jersey, which he claimed was "slippy"!! For years afterwards, the Arsenal club, would never wash their keeper's kit.

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
–1924	Clapton Orient
1924–1931	Arsenal	142	(0)
1931–1932	Gillingham	6	(0)
International career
1927–1929	Wales	3	(0)

 before a game! Not sure how that worked but hey-ho...nice story.

CAREY AND CATTERICK

It was the denouement of Everton's most successful League campaign since winning the Title in 1939, BUT a fifth place League finish was not considered good enough for a club bankrolled by Littlewoods Pools owner, John Moore. With The Toffees being the latest club to have the nickname, "The Bank of England", bestowed upon them, the club's sights were set much higher and so on March 15th, two matches before the end of the season, Moore's informed manager Johnny Carey of his sacking in the "back of a taxi" and in future the word was often shouted at a manager by fans countrywide when things were  not going well for him or his lads!

Four days earlier, Harry Catterick, manager of title challengers, Sheffield Wednesday, walked out of his job. Earlier in the season he had tried to move to Nottingham Forest but he ask to be released from his contract, which was refused by the Wednesday board, Now, with only months left on the contract he was allowed to leave, not that he had any footballing plans secured but he insisted that he would like to stay in football.

Three days after Carey's dismissal, Catterick was announced as Everton's new manager! A quirk of the fixture, saw his first match of his new club at his old one and his team (yes, the new one!!) won 2-1, the beginning of a successful period for Harry. It took two years to win the first title for The Toffees, in 24 years. His team included Alex Young, Roy Vernon, Fred Pickering and Ray Wilson...some stars to conjure with!! A win the 1966 FA Cup Final and another League title followed.

Meanwhile, Carey would have his "day in the sun", post-taxi ride, leading Leyton Orient (not quite the same!!) into their first ever visit to the (old and top) First Division in 1962. His team came second behind Manchester United in the 1966/7 while in charge at Nottingham Forest.

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1946–1951	Everton	59	(19)
1951–1953	Crewe Alexandra	24	(11)
Managerial career
1951–1953	Crewe Alexandra
1953–1958	Rochdale
1958–1961	Sheffield Wednesday
1961–1973	Everton
1975–1977	Preston North End
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Catterick died of a heart attack shortly after watching Everton draw 2–2 with Ipswich Town in an FA Cup Sixth Round match at Goodison Park on 9 March 1985. He was 65 years old. His death came almost exactly five years after former Everton striker, Dixie Dean, had died while watching a game at the ground, also of a heart attack. Everton won the replay 1–0 and the players wore black armbands in Catterick's memory.

He is buried in the graveyard of St Anne's Church, St Anne's-on-the-Sea, Lancashire, after a funeral held there six days after his death. His gravestone bears the Everton motto, "Nil satis nisi optimum". (Nothing but the best is good enough!)

BELFAST CELTIC SIGN OFF!

Don't panic...On Boxing Day 1948, the reigning Irish Football League Champions, Belfast Celtic (founded in 1891), travelled to Windsor Park, where they were due to meet arch-rivals, Linfield. 

Just like Celtic and Rangers in Glasgow, the sectarian enmity ran deep!! This is why!! For starters their supporters were mainly Catholic or Irish Nationalists. A small museum has since been opened in the Park Centre, by the Belfast Celtic Society and a plaque reminds shoppers that a football team played there! Guess the motto??!!

In 1912, their annual game had descended into a full-blown riot after Linfield had taken an early lead and Celtic fans brandished the Irish tricolour, which riled their opponents, resulting in 60 hospitalisations. The Press reported that, "the ground was a wreck as it had been undergoing alterations, with stones, half-bricks and clinkers lying around in abundance and the temptation to use these as missiles proved inevitable". One man was "found to be suffering from a revolver shot to the right side of the head". 

The Boxing Day fixture in 1948 also descended into Bedlam and while no gunshots were fired, the repercussions were much worse! Midway during the first half of the game that ended as a 1-1 draw, had broken his ankle after an innocuous challenge from Celtic's Jimmy Jones. After the final whistle, Linfield's supporters raced onto the pitch and "hared" after the Celtic players, who, according to those present, saw the Celts "run for their lives". Jones was caught by part of the mob and hauled onto the terrace where he was kicked unconscious and had his leg broken. Not good. Defender Robin Lawlor and goalkeeper Kevin McAlinden were both given a severe "beating".

Many Linfield supporters wrote to the Belfast nationalist newspapers expressing "shame at the behaviour of the minority mob". Questions were asked in the Northern Ireland, House of Commons, over the "role of the police". Many witnesses thought the police had "done little to quell the riot". The Celtic directors decided to withdraw from the League at the end of the season anyway.

On April 21st 1949, permission was granted for them to "take their leave of Northern Irish Football" for good! Belfast Celtic enjoyed a final fling 38 days later, beating a full Scottish side 2-0 while on a farewell tour in the USA.

Belfast Celtic Football Club, founded in 1891 in Belfast, was one of the most successful teams in Ireland until it withdrew permanently from the Irish League in 1949. The club left the League for political reasons, as the team and its supporters were largely Catholic and Irish Nationalists. Belfast Celtic FC was one of four clubs that attracted the biggest crowds in the Irish League, the other three being Linfield, Distillery and Glentoran. Belfast Celtic FC played its last match in 1960.

The club would never again play a competitive match but played several friendlies, including a match at home to Glasgow Celtic on 17 May 1952, when a team of ex-Belfast Celtic players took the field under the name of 'Newry F.C.' in aid of De La Salle Boys' Home in County Down. A final match—a testimonial—was played at Coleraine on 24 June 1960.

Celtic Park continued to function as a greyhound racing stadium until October 1983. Brookmount Properties bought the site for redevelopment. when it was demolished and replaced by the Park Shopping Centre.